When to Plant Pak Choy (Bok Choy) in Cairns, Tropical Guide

Sow April to August. Right now in September it is out of season. The next sowing month is April.

Also called bok choy, pak choi, buk choy.

Published · Last reviewed · By Garden Buddy
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.

This Pak Choy (Bok Choy) guide is written for the Tropical zone, which takes in Cairns, Townsville and Darwin. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth

Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.

Pak Choy (Bok Choy)

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Pak choy (also spelled bok choy, pak choi) is a fast-growing, non-heading Chinese cabbage with thick, crisp stems and dark green leaves. It matures in 5-7 weeks, making it one of the quickest brassica crops. Available in standard white-stemmed, green-stemmed (Shanghai), baby, and purple varieties. Essential in Asian cooking and increasingly popular in Australian home gardens.

Planting Calendar for Tropical

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
- - - S S/T/D S/T/D T/D T - - - -

S = Seed Tray   T = Transplant   D = Direct Sow

Want a nudge when it is Pak Choy (Bok Choy) sowing time in Cairns?

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Current Growing Conditions

Soil temperature: 21.4°C (optimal range: 10–25°C) ✓ Ready to plant

Modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Cairns), not a live sensor.

How to Grow Pak Choy (Bok Choy) in Tropical Australia

When to Plant

March-August (dry season). Summer growing very difficult due to bolting and pest pressure. Baby types mature fastest.

Soil
Rich, well-drained soil with plenty of compost and aged manure. Needs moisture-retentive but not waterlogged soil.
pH Range
6.0-7.5
Sunlight
Full sun in cool weather. Part shade essential in warm zones to prevent bolting.
Spacing
25cm apart, 35cm between rows
Watering
Consistent moisture critical. Water deeply every 2-3 days. Drought stress triggers bolting. Drip irrigation ideal. Morning watering preferred.

Companion plants: Celery, Onion, Chamomile, Dill, Marigold

Avoid planting near: Other brassicas if disease present, Strawberry

Tropical Growing Tips for Pak Choy (Bok Choy)

Recommended Varieties

  • Baby Bok Choy (fast maturing)
  • Shanghai (green stem)
  • Choy Sum (flowering type)

Key Challenges

  • Bolts rapidly in warm/long-day conditions
  • Extreme pest pressure (diamondback moth, aphids)
  • Soft rot in wet conditions

Pro Tips

  • Baby bok choy varieties mature in 4-5 weeks and are more reliable than full-size types
  • Insect netting is absolutely essential. Without it, expect total crop loss
  • Grow in the cooler months only; summer is futile

Harvesting Pak Choy (Bok Choy)

When ready: Baby bok choy: 15-20cm tall (4-5 weeks). Full size: 25-35cm with thick, firm stems (6-8 weeks). Stems should snap crisply when bent.

How to harvest: Cut entire plant at soil level with sharp knife. Or harvest outer leaves/stems individually for cut-and-come-again. Harvest in cool of morning.

Where to next

What pak choy costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.

Also worth sowing in the tropical zone this September: Lemongrass, Ginger, Cucumber and Basil.

The pest most likely to find your pak choy: Cabbage White Butterfly.

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Common Questions About Pak Choy (Bok Choy)

When do you plant pak choy in Australia?

It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:

Does pak choy grow all year round in Cairns?

No. In the Tropical zone the planting months are Apr to Aug. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.

What else is pak choy called?

Pak choy is the usual Australian name. Overseas seed packets and recipes call it bok choy, pak choi, buk choy. Same plant, same growing advice.

Which zone am I in?

Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Tropical zone, Cairns is its reference city.